Word Origin & History

swab 1659, "mop made of rope or yarn," from swabber (1607) "mop for cleaning a ship's deck," from Du. zwabber, akin to W.Fris. swabber "mop," from P.Gmc. *swab-, perhaps of imitative origin. Non-nautical meaning "anything used for mopping up" is from 1787. The verb is first recorded 1719, possibly from the noun. Slang meaning "a sailor" first attested 1798, from swabber "member of a ship's crew assigned to swab decks" (1591), which by 1609 was being used in a broader sense of "one who behaves like a low-ranking sailor."

Example Sentences for swab

“Here, you, get a swab and mop that up,” I commanded in my harshest manner.

Then clear out on deck and swab the curry off your face, you beast!

How could I permit that swab to mock me and abuse my father as a thief?

Ill teach you how to sail a schooner and how to go about barefoot and swab decks.

A line bent to the eye of a swab for dipping it overboard in washing it.

Lower down that foresail, you swab, lower down that foresail!

Had not he possessed that, he would not have been at the head of the firm of Crank, Trunnion & Swab.

No, it was the Swab,” said Harry, “but we lost our net and all the gear last night.

I understand: you did not perceive before that I had shipped the swab.